Plaiting-machine.



No. 802,814. v PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905. A. KISLIK & P. RASHKIN.

PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1002. RENEWED APR. 10,1905.

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%"iz eewwr y mnniw a ammo: cc, mloro-umonmvuans. w 54 man u c No. 802,814. PATENTED OUT 24, 1905. A. KISLIK (Kn P. RASHKIN.

PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1902. RENEWED APR. 10.1905.

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No. 802,814. PATENTED 061224, 1905. A. KISLIK & P. RASHKIN.

PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT 17, 1902. RENEWED APR. 10.1905.

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Til SilflS ALEXANDER KISLIK AND PHILIP RASHKIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PLAlTlNG-lVlACl-HNE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed September 1'7, 1902. Renewed April 10, 1905. Serial No. 254,723.

To all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALEXANDER KIsLIK and PI-IILI'P RASH'KIN, citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plaiting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for producing flattened-down folds in cloth, fabric, and other material capable of being creased, and is directed especially to the provision of a machine for rapidly plaiting cloth and which possesses a capacity for producing a wide variety in the design exhibited by the plaits.

In the organization of devices comprised in the present machine provision exists for a continuous operation of folding the cloth at the proper places and for flattening such folds to thereby crease the cloth and form as a result what are known as plaits. Various accessory devices are combined with other mechanism of the machine whereby on proper adjustment and operation either a double plait (box-plait) may be made, or, if desired, the plaits may be of the character known as side plaitsthat is, plaits the forming folds of which all point in the same directionor, again, various combinations of such plaits may be made progressively along the fabric.

The present machine may be said in a general way to comprise a suitable gripping device for gripping the cloth along a line transverse to the direction in which the feed thereof takes place and which device by suitable mechanism is caused to fold the cloth in a manner such that the lapped portions of the folds are all upon the same side of the cloth and all point in the same direction, as in side plaiting, or else by operation of mechanism hereinafter to be described the cloth is folded alternately first on one side and then on the other to produce the character of plaits known as f box-plaits. Furthermore, by the use of other features of the invention the design may be altered by interspersing one species of plait between the other. Provision will also ordinarily exist in a machine characterized by the present improvements in its construction for producing the plaits along the cloth not only at uniform distances apart, but also for varying during the plaitin g operation the distances or spaces between consecutive plaits or consecutive series of plaits to make in the latter instance the distance separating the driving-shaft of the machine.

consecutive series of plaits different to that existing between the consecutive plaits comprised in such series.

In the drawings accompanying the present specification there is set forth an organization of devices constituting a plaiting-machine, in which there are embodied the features of our present improvements.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the machine, part being shown in section and one of the combined feed and creasing rolls being broken away to show its hollow interior. Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking from the right in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but looking from the left in Fig. 1. Fig. t is a plan, view of the portion of the machine at the right in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the figure, however, showing certain parts in outline only. The full lines represent the movable parts in a position in which the feeding motion of the combined feed and creasing rolls is about to take place, while the position of the parts shown in dotted linescorrespoiuls to that assumed by them at a stage some time before such condition prevails. Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational view looking from front to rear of the machine of those members of the gripping device and of the parts upon which they are mounted adjacent to that end of themachine at which the gripper operator is located. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the parts set forth in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating the means adopted in the present instance for separating the opposed members of the gripping device immediately before or at the instant that such device begins its backward travel to take a fresh grip upon the cloth and produce the next consecutive fold. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the parts set forth in Fig. 8. Figs. 1.0 and ll are enlarged detail views of the gripper-oscillator and the means employed for actuating the same from Fig. 12 is an enlarged face View of a disk utilized in the present machine as one of several elements for the production of side plaiting, this disk also serving as a pin-carrier in which removable pins may be inserted at various predetermined points for the purpose of varying the feed of the cloth intermediate the points at which plaits or a series of the same are produced. Fig. 13 is a similar view of a recessed or notched disk serving to effect when cooperating with its associated parts the production of box-plaits. Figs. 14c and 15 are similar views of modified forms of disks for producing difierent combinations of box and side plaiting. Figs. 16 and 16*illustrate the former the relative position of the gripping device during the production of one of the folds of a box-plait, the latter figure illustrating in diagram the fold produced by the parts when the same are in the position set forth in Fig. 16. Figs. 17 and 17 correspond to Figs. 16 and 16, respectively, but illustrate the position of the gripper and its position-controlling means when the remaining fold of the box-plaitis made; and Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relation ofthe folds existing in a series of side plaits.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all figures.

Our present invention is illustrated in the drawings attached to the specification as applied to a machine for plaiting by a continuous operation cloth fed to the machine, various mechanisms and combinations of devices being comprised in the machine whereby upon proper adjustment and manipulation a comparatively great variety of plaits and plaiting designs may be produced, varying not only in size or extent of fold and in the distance existing from center to center of consecutive plaits, but also in the number of combinations that may be made, in Which combinations the variable elements consist of the spaces separating consecutive series of plaits and the number and distance apart of the plaits comprised in each series. It will be understood, however, that it is not essential to the operation of a complete machine that all of the variousfeatures capable of producing the variety outlined above shall be embodied in its construction.

Referring now to a description of the machine as illustrated, suitable standards, such as B B, Will ordinarily be provided for sup porting the various fixtures and operative parts. These standards may be formed with suitable housings b 7) in their upper parts supporting the boxes 2*, in which the bearings for the journals of the rolls 2 2' are formed. These rolls not only constitute the means for feeding the cloth or other material through the machine, but also serve the purpose of flattening down the folds formed in the cloth, and thus creasing the same to form plaits. The rolls are preferably held yieldingly together in order to properly bite the cloth, this result being effected in this instance by slidably fitting the boxes 2*, supporting the journal of the upper roll, in the housings of the standards and inserting springs 2 2 which bear against the upper face of the respective boxes. The tension of these springs may be regulated by screws 2 2, which pass through caps 2 2 on the upper ends of the housmgs and impinge against bearing-plates 2 2, serving to take the upper pressure of the springs. The journalbearings of the lower roll may be fixed relatively to the standards, while these latter are firmly connected together, as by suitable cross-rods, such as 3. The two rolls 2 2 move in unison, gears 4 4, attached to their journals, meshing With each other for this purpose. while the means for actuating the rolls will be referred to presently. It may here be stated that some means will ordinarily be employed for separating the rolls in order to facilitate the introduction or withdrawal of the cloth. We have employed for this purpose in this instance a pair of lifting-disks 5, eccentrically secured to shafts 5, mounted in the sides of the housings. Operating-levers 6 extend from the shafts and are connected by a link 6, while one of the levers has an operating-handle 6 for turning the eccentric disks, and thereby elevating the upper roll.

In front of the machine and in proper-juxtaposition to the converging peripheries of the rolls is located the gripping device, which, having taken hold of the cloth at a point along a line situated somewhat distant from the line along which the rolls approach nearest, is then caused to advance either above or below the cloth, as the nature of the plait to be produced may require, to a point such that the cloth held by it is pinched by the converging peripheries of the two rolls, these latter remaining stationary during this operation. TV hen this has been accomplished, the gripper is caused to retract, while simultaneously with this retracting movement the rolls are rotated to flatten down the fold thus formed, creasing the cloth and producing a plait. This gripper (designated in a general way by G) comprises in the form thereof illustrated an upper member 0 and a lower member 0. Both of these members may be substantially alike in form and are preferably of sufficient length to insure a hold upon the cloth extending across its entire breadth. They are mounted to oscillate back and forth in the proper position to carry the held cloth between the rolls, as aforesaid. These gripper members are plate-like in form and are supported in a gripper-frame C, comprising a stretcher-rod 7, rigidly connected to crosspieces 7 7, the members being secured to respective fastening-blocks 7 7", carried by the aforesaid cross-pieces 7. While we have in this instance represented the blocks to which the upper gripping-plate is secured as being mounted for oscillation in the respective cross-pieces 7 7, thus permitting the movement of the upper plate toward and away from the other, the construction may be reversed, or, on the other hand, both of these plates may be capable of movement. Springs, such as 8, carried by the stretcher-rod 7 insure a normal gripping action of the members of the gripper, while means for effecting the sepaecaem;

ration of such me'mbersfoccurring during the retracting movement of the gripper) will be adverted to presently. In order to render the bite of the gripper upon the cloth secure as the gripper moves forward,one or both plates will preferably be of" somewhat elastic material. while the edge of the upper plate may furthermore be slotted, as shown at c, to produce a series of spring-like gripping-fingers.

The oscillatory movement of the gripper is conveniently effected by mounting the same upon a rock-frame. In the form thereof herein set forth such frame (designated by D) comprises arms 9 9, secured to a shaft 9, extending from side to side of the machine and journaled in bearings provided in the standards. In order to permit the gripping edges of the gripper to be positioned either above or below the cloth passing between the rolls, the frame comprising the side pieces 7 7 is mounted to permit it to be swung backward and forward upon the aforesaid rock-frame D. This capacity is afforded by mounting the gripper-frame in journal-bearings upon the arms 9 9, shafts l 10 extending from the respective side pieces 7 7, being journaled in this instance in the arms 9 9.

Oscillatory movement is communicated to the rock-frame D, and hence to the gripper carried thereby, from the driving-shaft S of the machine. This shaftis mounted in bearings. which arein this instance supported by the standards B B, and carries a suitable drivingmlley P. The oscillator (designated by E) for communicating motion to the rock-frame comprises in the form thereof illustrated a lever 12, pivoted to a fixed support 12 by a pin 12 and has an opening 12", in which is located a sliding block 13, slidably fitted to the upper and lower surfaces of the opening, but free to move idly back and forth in the direction of the length of the lever 12 without imparting motion thereto. To the shaft Sis attached an eccentric 14. which fits in a circular opening in the block 13 and effects during the rotation of the driving-shaft such an oscillatory movement of the lever 12 as is effective to impart a corresponding movement to the aforesaid rock-frame, motion being communicated from the lever to the shaft 9 of the frame through a connecting-rod 15. pivoted at one end to an arm 16, secured to this shaft. We prefer to so construct and organize the parts that the amount of folding that is, of lap produced by doubling the cloth upon itself may be varied. For this purpose the end of the lever 12 to which the connecting-rod is attached is slotted, as indicated, (see 17.) By clamping the pivotal connection of the connecting-rod end at different points in this slot the throw of the gripper may be regulatechand hence the amount of lap produced varied.

it is evident from what has already been stated that the normal position of the members c c of the gripper is such as to take hold of the cloth passing between them with a pressure sufficient to carry the cloth forward on the advance of the gripper. Were not means provided for releasing the grip of the device during its retracting movement the tendency would be to derange the cloth and to at least vary the size of the folds. \Ve have therefore provided means for separating the members one from the other immediately before or at the instant that the gripper starts on its backward movement. Such means in the form thereof illustrated comprises a separating device such as tapering pin 18, adapted to enter between the members 0 c of the gripper. Preferably the parts which bear against this tapering pin are in the form of antifrictionrollers 18 18, rotatably mountedupon the respective members 0 c. For the actuation of the tapering pin 18 to cause the wedging apart of the members and upon the withdrawal of the pin perz'i'iitting the aforesaid springs 8 to force the gripper members together and hold the cloth is accomplished by pivotally mounting the pin upon one end of a lever 19. pivoted intermediate its ends by a pin 19' to one of the standards of the machine and having its opposite end bent to bring a cam-roller 19. mounted thereon. into proper relation with a cam 19, secured to the driving-shaft of the machine and against which the roller is pressed by a spring 19". The operation of the oscillator E is so timed with relation to the operation of the cam 19 that the pin 18 will be forced between the members of the gripper immediately before or at the instant that the gripper starts to move backward, thus insuring the release of the cloth and permitting it to feed freely forward through the gripper.

The feeding of the cloth is effected by the motion of the rolls transmitted to them from the driving-shaft S of the machine. This transmittingmechanism is of such a character as to impart an intermittent motion to the cloth intervening, between which movements the aforedescribed gripper grips the cloth and brings it forward into the space between the rolls, doubling over the cloth and forming a fold. The means herein set forth for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to the rolls comprises, as aforesaid. the gears 4 and t, and a crank device consisting of a crank-disk 20, attached to the driving-shaft at one end of the machine, a connecting-rod 21 derivingmotion from the crank-disk and being pivoted at its upper end to a rock-arm 22, whose axis coincides with the axis of the journal of the upper roll. A pawl-carrier in. the nature of a rock-arm 23,1ikewise journaled concentrically with this journal, carries a spring pressed pawl 23', adapted to engage with a ratchetwheel 24:, secured to the journal. A link 25, pivoted to the connecting-rod 21 and to the pawl-carrier. serves to transmit motion from the former to the latter and to thereby, during alternate semirotations of the IIO driving -shaft, intermittently feed the rolls forward in a direction such as to transfer the cloth from that side of the machine on which the gripper is located to the opposite side. We prefer in this construction also to provide for a variability in the amount of such feeding movements, to the end that the distance between consecutive plaits may be varied, and have therefore provided for the adjustable connection of the connecting-rod 21 with the crank-disk 20 at variable distances from the axis of the latter, this connection comprising an undercut slot 20 in the outer face of the disk at any point, in which slot the connecting-rod may be attached by a pivotpin 20. A further possibilityof adjustment independent of that at the crank-disk end of the connecting-rod is presented bya pin-andslot connection 20 of the link 25 with the connecting-rod 21.

Referring to Figs. 16, 17, and 18, in which there is illustrated in a diagrammatic way the relation existing between the folds of the socalled box-plait and the folds constituting the so-called side plaiting, and assuming in these figures the upper lines of the respective cross-sections to represent the upper surface of the cloth it is evident that in order to produce a box-plait the gripper shall grasp the cloth and move forward toward the space between the rolls in a direction first under the cloth and then above the samethat is, the doubled-over portions will during the advance of the gripper he first above the same and at the next advance thereof below the gripper, the former corresponding to the fold mac and the latter to the fold y 1/. in producing the box-plait, in other words, the position of the gripping edges of the gripper vertically of the machine as it advances alternates first above and then below an intervening horizontal plane. In the production of side plaits, however, this alternate positioning of the gripping edges does not necessarily occur, since the gripper during its advancing movements need not change its position vertically of the machine. This is apparent from an examination of Fig. 18. This alternate rise and fall of the gripper in making box-plaits is produced in this instance by rocking the gripper-frame C to and fro relatively to the rockframe D, upon which the gripper-frame is mounted, since in producing side plaiting, however, it is not necessary that such motion take place. The gripper-frame may remain stationary with relation to the rock frame. The means we have set forth for conveniently effecting this alternate rocking of the gripper-frame or maintaining it in stationary relation to the rock-frame comprises an actuatorarm 26, securely afiiXed to one of the supporting-shafts 10 of the gripper-frame and formed at its free end with acontact 26, pressed, as by a spring 26", coiled about the shaft, into engagement with any determinate one of aseries of instrumentalities for controlling the position of such actuator-arm.

These instrumentalities are conveniently disk-like in form and are of such diameter and are so related to the contact 26 (when the latter is brought into operative relation with a given disk) that the actuator-arm when its contact is in engagement with the extreme outer periphery of the disk shifts the gripper by the rocking of its frame to a position such that the grip edges thereof will take their lowermost position, while upon the engagement of the contact with a portion of the disk of less radial dimension the gripping edges will be shifted to the uppermost position assumed by them in their advancing movement. By using a form of disk presentingno portion of reduced radius to the contact end of the actuator-arm and a form of rotatable disk in which portions of full radius intervene between portions of less radius we are enabled to produce side plaiting, box,plaits,and various combinations of the same upon the cloth during the operation of the machine. For the production of side plaits, in which the relation of the gripper-frame to the rock-frame remains substantially the same throughout the entire operation, it is manifestly unnecessary that the part against which the contact 26 bears should move; but in this instance such part is utilized for the further purpose of carrying a series of pins, (the purpose of which will be later set forth,) and hence such part is made in the form of a disk having a full unbroken periphery. (See, for instance, the part marked 27.) For the purpose of shifting the position of the actuatonarm 26 the part against which the contact 26' bears is in the present embodiment of the machine given a step-by-step rotary movement, this motion being imparted from a cam or wiper 28 upon the main shaft, in cooperative relation to which is mounted an angle-lever 29, a spring 29 connected to which urges the arm 29 of the lever in a position to cooperate with the cam, which latter, therefore, during each full rotation of the main driving-shaft oscillates said angle-lever once. Loosely mounted upon an extension of the shaft 9' of the described rock-frame is a ratchet-wheel 30, with which engages the suitably-formed end of a pawl-arm 31, pivoted at one end to the free end of the arm 29 of the angle-lever 29. A spring 31 retains the pawl-arm in engagement with the "ratchetwheel, while the parts already described as serving to control the position of the actuatorarm 26 may be singly attached to the ratchetwheel by suitable through-pins, holes 31 for which are represented. Although such construction is not essential, the entire series of disks, each of which serves to control the impartation of a definite character of plaiting to the cloth, may all be mounted upon the extension of the shaft 9, being secured to the ratchet-wheel mounted thereon by a pin or ICC production of consecutive box-plaits.

soaaia pins, as aforesaid, a nut 31", threaded onto the shaft end, holding the series in place, prefer ably with a slight degree of friction to prevent their idle turning. In order to bring the actuator-arm into operative relation with any particular one of such disks at will, the shaft of the gripper-frame, to which the actuator- 1 arm is attached, is shown as somewhat elongated, and the hub of the arm is slidably mounted thereon. By shifting the arm lengthwise of the shaft the contact on the former may be brought to bear against the desired disk, in which position the arm may be secured by a set-screw, as 31 or by other suitable means, a spline 31 assuring the-permanent and correct relation of the arm to the frame.

Recurring to the disks against the periphcries of which the contact 26 is pressed, Fig. 13 illustrates a form thereof adapted for the This disk 27, it will be noticed, is provided with six portions 27 of full radius, while intervening between consecutive full-radius portions each rotation of the main driving-shaft. Hence for each such rotation the ratchet-wheel will be shifted forward one tooththat is to say, the disk 27 will be rotated one-twelfth of a turn. The parts are so organized and related that such movement accomplishes at each step the ascent of the contact on the gripper-frame actuator-arm from the bottom of adepression or recess to the top of a full-radius portion 27, and vice versa. Hence for each full rotation of the drivingshaft the gripper, assuming the disk 27 to be the operative one, performs one excursion to and. fro, while by the swinging movement of the actuator-arm the gripper-frame will be shifted to a position vertically, opposite to that it had in forming the fold last made.

In Figs. 14 and 15 the respective portions 27 27 of full radius and 27 27 of less radius are of different peripheral proportions to the corresponding portions of the disk of Fig. 13. From what has already been said it is evident that the character of plaits produced in the cloth by these disks will be combinations of those produced by the disks 27 and 27, for as long as the contact 26 remains pressed against a portion full radius the gripping edges of the gripper will be located below the median plane. In shifting from a full-radius portion into a recess and conversely the gripping edges are caused to change their vertical position relatively to the intervening horizontal plane. As long, therefore, as the contact 26 remains pressed against the bottom of a recess the gripping edges will be located above such intervening plane. A great variety of plaiting combinations and designs is thus capable of being effected in which boxplaitings, one or more in number, intervene along the cloth between side plaitings, one or more in number.

It will be understood, of course, that Figs. 13 to 15 represent but a few of the possible number of forms of disks which may be used.

As thus far described it is evident that the width of the plait measured along the cloththat is, the depth of the bight of the fold-may not only be varied, but the distance measured from center to center of a plait may be likewise changed by altering the extent of feeding movement imparted to the rolls; but in one setting of the machine such distances will severally remain substantially uniform. In order to increase the range of the present machine as respects a break in such uniformity to thereby render some of such distances to be less or greater than others, and which ununiformity shall be accomplished at a fixed setting, we have provided an auxiliary feed or spacing device for increasing such separatingspaces at predetermined points along the cloth. Such auxiliary feed or spacing device in the form thereof illustrated embodies a pawl 33, loosely mounted upon a pivot-pin 33, connecting the aforesaid connecting-rod 21 with the rock-arm 22, while likewise loosely mounted upon said pivot-pin is an arm 34:, carrying at its free end a relatively fixed stop-finger 35, adapted to cooperate with pins 36, one or more, insertible into openings provided for them in the radial face of the aforesaid disk 27. The pawl 33 is normally held by a spring 37 in a position such that it does not engage with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 24, a stop 37 determining its retracted position, while the arm 34, by the action of a spring 38 is normally held in such position, a stop 33 de termining this position, that the stop-finger 35 carried thereby may impinge against one of the pins 36 upon the downward movement of the connecting-rod 21 and the pawl 33 be swung into engagement with the ratchetwheel 24. During the upward movement of the connecting-rod not only is the feedingpawl 23 operative to turn the ratchet-wheel, but the pawl 33 likewise serves as an actuator rotating the ratchetwheel and the roll to which it is attached through a greater angular distance than the pawl 23 operates to turn them by reason of the direct connection of the former pawl as compared with the interposed swinging link driving the latter pawl until when the pawl 33, reaches its uppermost position and the arm 21 starts to move downward, the pawl 33, disengaging itself from the ratchet-teeth, is thrown by the spring 37 to a position in which it clears such teeth, as set forth in Fig. 2. If all the pins 36 are re- IIO moved from the disk 27, the pawl 33 is inoperative to impart any motion to the ratchetwheel 24; but each time that the finger 35 upon its descent impinges against a pin the cloth is moved through a greater distance than the feedingpawl 23 operates to turn it. Hence by various arrangements of a proper number of pins upon the disk 27 such wider distances may be made to appear between the plaits along the cloth at predetermined intervals.

A machine constructed and organized in accordance with the foregoing description operates substantially as follows: Assuming the driving-shaft S to be in rotation from the rotating pulley P and the cloth to have been passed between the members 0 c of the gripper and caught between the rolls 2 2, an intermittent feed movement is given to the cloth, intervening between which movements the gripper G moves forward, doubling over the cloth upon itself and inserting the held portion between the rolls-that is to say,while the rolls remain stationary the outer end of the oscillator-lever 12 moves upward and carries the gripper forward and with it the cloth. As the gripper starts to return by reason of the downward movement of the oscillator the lever 19 is swung upon the pivot by the contact of its roller with the operating portion of the cam 19, resulting in the wedging of the members 0 c apart, in which position they are held as the gripper moves backward over the cloth. During this backward movement a feed motion is imparted to the feed-rolls through the crank-disk 20 or an increased motion thereof effected through the impingement of the stop-finger 35 with a pin 36 upon the disk 27. Immediately prior to the forward movement of the gripper the separator 18 is withdrawn, and as the gripper progresses -in its onward movement the same is either positioned above or below the central reference plane by the engagement of the contact 26 with a portion of the position-controlling disk of full radius or with the bottom of a recess therein.

A stationary frame for supporting the cloth as it is fed to the machine is shown in the drawings comprising side bars 39, extending from the standards of the machine, between which stretch cross-rods 39', over any particular one of which the cloth may be passed. Moreover, in order to carry on the creasing operation under heat the lower roll 2 may be hollow and a suitable piping arrangement (designated in a general way by a0 and comprising a fuel-supply 40) may be utilized for heating the barrel of the roll. the inlet-pipe 40 being introduced through one of the journals of the lower roll, which is made hollow for this purpose.

tory toward and away from the rolls; opposed antifriction-rollers mounted on the blades; a tapered spreader; and means for forcing the spreader between the antifriction-rollers and thereby separating the blades.

' 2. The combination with a pair of pressingrolls, of a pair of gripping-blades springpressed together; a rock-frame upon which said blades are mounted; an oscillator for rocking the frame; and a tapered spreader for separating the blades and which is oscillatory in line with the axes of said rolls.

8. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a pair of pressingrolls, of means for imparting an intermittent rotative movement thereto, and an auxiliary mechanism comprising a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, and removable stop-pins for imparting an increased angular movement to the rolls.

at. The combination with a pair of pressingrolls, of a pair of grippingblades springpressed together; a rock-frame upon which said blades are mounted; a slotted vibrating lever; a link pivotally secured to said rockframe and adjustably secured in the slot of said vibrating lever; and a tapered spreader for separating the blades and which is oscillatory in line with the axes of said rolls.

5. The combination with a pair of pressingrolls, of a pair of grippingblades springpressed together; a rock-frame on which said blades are mounted; a former-shaft; a series of former-disks mounted thereon; means for imparting an intermittent movement to the series of disks; and an actuator-arm adjustable lengthwise of the blades to bring it into cooperative relation with any desired one of the former-disks.

6. The combination with a pair of pressingrolls, of a pair of gripping-blades springpressed together; a rock-frame upon which said blades are mounted; a former-shaft; a series of former disks mounted thereon; means for imparting an intermittent movement to the series of disks; a shaft rigid with said blades; and an actuator-arm having a splined connection with the latter shaft and which is adapted to be shifted into cooperative relation with any desired one of said disks.

7. The combination with a pair of pressingrolls, of a pair of gripping-blades springpressed together; a rock-frame upon which said blades are mounted; a former-shaft; a plurality of former-disks mounted thereon; a ratchet-wheel and a cam-operated pawl for imparting an intermittent movement to the series of disks; a shaft rigid with said blades; and an actuator-arm havingasplined connection with the latter shaft and which is adapted to be shifted into cooperative relation with any desired one of said disks.

8. The combination with a pair of pressingrolls, of a pawl and ratchet-wheel mechanism for imparting an intermittent movement to the rolls; and a second pawl cooperative with said ratchet-wheel for imparting an increased angular movement to said rolls.

9. The combination with a pair of pressing rolls, of a pawl and ratchet-wheel mechanism having an adjustable throw for imparting variable amounts of angular movement to said rolls; and a second pawl cooperative with said ratchet-wheel for imparting an increased angular movement to the rolls.

10. The combination with a pair of geared pressing-rolls, of an arm pivoted concentrically with one of said rolls; a link one of whose ends is pivoted to the arm; a crank for rotating the opposite end of the link; a ratchetwheel moving with one of said rolls; a pawl cooperative with said ratchet-wheel carried by said arm; an adjustable stop device for controlling the operation of said ratchet-wheel by said pawl cooperative with said ratchetwheel; and asecond pawl operatedfrom said link for imparting a normal angular movement to said ratchet-wheel and said rolls.

11. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a drivingshaft, of a pair of pressingrolls, feeding mechanism operative from such driving-shaft, a normally inoperative auxiliary feed mechanism also operative from said shaft, and a stop-pin carrier for controlling at will the operation of such auxiliary feed mechanism.

12. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a pair of pressing-rolls, of a gripper, an oscillator for oscillating the gripper to and fro, a driving-shaft, feed mechanism operative from said shaft, a normally inoperative auxiliary feed mechanism also operative from said shaft,and astop-pin carrier forcontrolling at will the operation of such auxiliary feed mechanism.

13. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a pair of pressing-rolls, of a gripper, an oscillator for oscillating the gripper to and ho, a driving-shaft, a feed mechanism operative from said shaft, a normally inoperative auxiliary feed mechanism also operative from said shaft, a stop-pin carrier for controlling at will the operation of such auxiliary feed mechanism, and means for shifting the gripper from one side to the other of the material and thereby producing folds on the opposite side of the material.

14. The combination withapairof pressingrolls, of a ratchet-wheel movable therewith; an adjustable crank; an arm pivoted concentrically with the axis of said ratchet-wheel; a link connecting said arm with said crank; a pawl carried by said arm; an adjustable stop device for controlling the operation of said ratchet-wheel from said pawl; a-second arm also pivoted concentrically with the axis of the ratchet-wheel; a pawl carried by said seclllml nd ar and a link connecting said second arm with said crank-connected link.

15. In a plaiting-n'iachine, the combination with a main driving-sha'lt, of an oscillatorlever driven thereby, a gripper operatix ely connected with said lex er, a pair of pressingrolls, an actuator-arm fo r shifting the grip per with relation to the space between the rolls, a series of disks any one of which adapted to be brought into operative relation with said actuator-arm, means for imparting a step-bystep motion to said disks, a device for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to the pressing-rolls, and an auxiliary mechanism for imparting'a continuous angular movement of comparatively greater extent to the rolls.

16. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a pair of pressing-rolls, of a gripper, an oscillator for oscillating the gripper toward and away from the space between the rolls, a rock-frame u pon which the gri pper is monn ted, an actuator-arm for cl'ianging the angular relation of the gripper with relation to the rockframe, a series of disks with any one of which said actuator-arm may be brought into cooperative relation, a driving shaft, a crankdriven roll rotating mechanism operative therefrom, an auxiliary roll rotating pawl mounted upon said. mechanism and normally inoperative to impart motion to the pressingrolls, and a pin-carrier with any pin on which said auxiliary mechanism is adapted to engage and thereby impart an increased angular motion to the rolls.

17. In a plaiting-machine, the combination with a pair of pressinga'olls, of a gripper oscillatory toward and away from the rolls, a rock-frame upon which the gri p per is mounted, an actuatorarm for changing the angular relation of the gripper with relation to the rockframe, a series of disks, means for enabling said actuator-arm to be brought into cooperative relation with any one of said disks, a wedge for separating the gripper, a cam for oscillating said wedge, an adjustable crank, a pawl and ratchet-wheel mechanism'for imparting a step-by-stcp movement to said pressingrolls, a link connecting said crank with said pawl and ratchet-wheel mechanism, a second pawl cooperative with said ratchetwheel operative to impart an increased angular movement to said rollsand which is actuatable from said link, and a stop-pin carrier adapted to hold removable stop pins for cor'Sperating with said second pawl to effect at predetermined periods the operation of said mecl'ianisi'n.

ALEXANDER KISLIK. PHILIP HASH KIN Witnesses:

RALPH JULIAN SAOHlGI-ES, PIERsoN L. NVELLs. 

